Marjorie Cook

The Cromwell Community Board yesterday took to its long-term community plan and associated 10-year budget yesterday with red pens in a concerted attempt to reduce a budgeted 54.3% ($1.29 million) rates increase for the ward in the financial year beginning June 30.

The Forest Range Station, in the Lindis Valley, consists of five properties run by the Emmerson family - Forest Range, Bargour, Breast Hill, Tomich and Hawea, covering 19,000ha.

Jack and Annie are not your typical pampered pets or snooty pooches.

Waita River's coastal tides have ruled Barbara McAlpine's life for two decades but the West Coast whitebaiting identity has called time on her sojourn by the sea.

Dunedin swimmer Cameron McMahon loves long-distance freestyle events and is champing at the bit for a quick start for his family team in the Challenge Wanaka long-distance triathlon today.

Home-town athletes loom as major contenders in Wanaka's big short-race triathlon today.

Out on Lake Wanaka is where Lake Hawea sailor Ken Urquhart (53) performs his best.

Olympians Bevan Docherty and Kris Gemmell will not be racing in Triathlon New Zealand's Contact Cup races in Wanaka tomorrow, stating they do not want to be beaten by their fired-up junior New Zealand team-mates.

Wanaka professional triathlete Merryn Johnston (31) is a home-town favourite in the Challenge Wanaka long-distance triathlon on Saturday

Wanaka freeskier Byron Wells (16) has been invited to compete in the Winter X Games in the US this year, where he will join older brother Jossi.

The Challenge Wanaka Triathlon Festival opened in Wanaka yesterday with perfect conditions favouring the first Puzzling World Junior Challenge Wanaka.

Auckland tramper Irina Yun (36) has not been found, despite an intensive search yesterday of the Dart River and gorge near Dart Hut by police and Wanaka LandSAR volunteers.

In 35 years of operating diggers, Peter "Squeak'' Shields of Haast had never thought he would be asked to shift a glacier.

Finding a mountain guide in Wanaka is easy. Marjorie Cook climbed two flights of stairs in Ardmore St, negotiated a corridor, and summitted in the sun-filled office of Aspiring Guides.

Wanaka hosts round three of Triathlon New Zealand's Contact Tri Series next Friday, with Bevan Docherty and Nicky Samuels the main drawcards.